Communal Harmony in Kashmiri Literature describes distinct characteristics of communal harmony in Kashmiri literature starting from the compositions of legendary spiritual poetess Lal Ded to the contemporary poets and prose writers. The book is divided in various chapters focusing on language landscaping, national cultural heritage, mystic poets, Sufi poets, modern poetry and prose, and literature after 1990. In the history of Kashmiri literature, spread over more than seven hundred years, a concern and passion of love for humanity is very prominent. Poets have sung songs of communal harmony, and love for humanity. We have Muslim poets singing Bhakti songs and Hindu poets swearing by Sufism. The author has studied and evaluated the communal harmony in Kashmiri literature reflected in the writings of authors belonging to two communities.

The chapter on post-1990 literature marks a new trend in Kashmiri literature. Although the dominant theme of the literature of this period has been the sufferings, nostalgia, uncertain future, pangs of separation, etc., but the undercurrent of such writings remains the love for humanity and Kashmir as motherland.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Roop Krishen Bhat has served Government of India in various capacities. He is a former Professor of Central Institute of Indian Languages, Director of Directorate of Adult Education in the Ministry of Human Resource Development. He was a Senior Research Fellow of the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. His main areas of academic interest are linguistics, language education, translation, literature, culture and media. He has written, edited and co-edited thirty-seven books in Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi and English. His publications include A Descriptive Study of Kashmiri,Kashmiri:A Language Course, Urdu-Hindi Dictionary, The Languages of Punjab, The Languages of Haryana etc., and dozens of papers published in reputed journals and magazines across the world. He is a Sahitya Akademi translation awardee and a prominent short story writer in Kashmiri and has published three collections of short stories in Kashmiri so far. He is associated with various socio-cultural and literary organizations and is Managing Trustee of Kashmir Cultural Trust.